Letter-file.



- No. 634,545. Patented net-1 10,1399.

W. CZSTAH LE &. T. MILLS. LETTER FILE.

(Application filed me. 27; 1898.) (N0 Nodal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patenteuvlgi'cft." "1,1899. w. 0. smuu: & T. mus.

LETTER FILE.

(Application filed. Dec. 27, 1398.

f m.. sa4,545.

' (No Model.) 2 sheets-sheaf z.

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; UNITED-ST TE a WILLIAM 0.; STAHLE AND THOMAS MILLS, OF oLEvELANo, 01-110; SAID MILLS ASSIGNOR TO SAID, STAHLE.

LETTER-Hus.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,545, dated October 10, 1899. Application filed December 27, 1898. Serial No. 700,350. (No model) To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that we, WILLIAM C. STAHLE and THOMAS MILLs, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Letter-Files, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to devices adapted for the filing of letters, bills, and other papers in an orderly manner-tor example, alphabetically. Such devices have heretofore been provided with two file-posts and curved transfer loops adapted to telescopewith said posts and to be moved out of and out of line with said posts to'permit the. filing or removal of papers from them.

Our invention is an improvement upon devices of this general character, the principal object being to render the proper use of such posts, and a frame secured to said posts which is capable of moving vertically to cause said legs to move into and out of said posts and rearwardly when in its raised position to carry said legs out of line with said posts,

combined with a bail adapted to impart said movements to the frame.

It also consists in the combinations of such parts with other parts, as hereinafter described; in the arrangement of the curved loops and rigid frame formed in one integral piece, combined with the necessary cooperate ing-parts, and in the more specific combinations of parts found in the best embodiment of the generic invention, as shown and described, all of which are definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a device embodying our invention when the same is in position for transferring-the filed papers from the posts to the transfer-loops. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the device whenthe file-case is closed. Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the device whe'ntheparts are in position to permit the removal of a filed paper from the file.-

from thev tops thereof.

posts orthe impalement of a paper thereon. Figs. 4: to 7 inclusive, show a modified form of the, device. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the same when open. Fig. dis a sectionalside view when the parts are in one of the positions which they may assume-namely, that in which the bail is about to act to raise the transfer-frames to which the transfer-loops are connected. Fig. 6 is a sectional side view of the device when the case is closed. Fig. 7 is a sectional side View of the device when the parts are in another position.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the file-case, and A its cover, the backs. a a, of said two parts being of equal height and hinged together, substantially as shown.

1 B B represent two vertical file-posts which are secured to the case near its back.

. C represent the transfer-loops, having downwardly-extended front legs. 0 and the curved part c, which are integral with said legs and curve rearwardly and downwardly The legs telescope with the file-posts and serve as guides upon which the papers may be slid'iu passing from the posts onto the curved parts of said'loops.

Preferably. the posts are tubular and are cut away obliquely on the rear sides, as shown at 17, whereby the lower ends of the legs 0 c, notwithstanding the fact that when in their raised position they overlap the ends of the posts, may nevertheless be drawn rearward out of line with said posts. The lower ends of the curved parts of the transfer-loops are connected with a frame which is vertically movable in suitable guides and is also capable of a rearward movement of siich character and distance as to draw the lower ends of the legs 0 c rearward out of line with the posts. In the construction shown in Figs. 1

to 3 this so-called frame is an integral part of the same bent wire out of which the transfer-loops and their legs are formed.

The part of this wire which we call the frame These bearings are formed on the upper edge of a plate G, which is attached to the back of the case, or rather to a block 0. which is attached to said back. It also has the forwardlyprojecting feet g, to which the file-posts are secured, A coiled spring or springs F, which embrace the rock-shaft, have one of their ends,

bearing on the block a and another against a lug e on the shaft, whereby the springs act to turn the shaft in that direction which carries the legs 0 toward the posts By moving the frame upwardly the transfer-loops are likewise raised to the position shown in Fig. 1. When the parts are in this position, the filed papers may be slid off the posts and over onto the transfer-loops. By swinging the upper end of the frame backward the legs 0 are drawn out of line with the posts to the position substantially as shown in Fig. 3, whereby papers may be removed from the posts or impaled thereon, as desired.

The described construction is the cheapest and best now known to us for securing the desired results; but it may be changed in many respects without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- In Figs. 4: to '7, inclusive, a modified construction is shown. In this construction the lower ends of the curved parts of the transfer-loops are bent upward vertically and are secured to a frame, the specificform of which is a flat plate D. This plate is vertically movable in a housing formed between the back a of the case and a parallel vertical plate I-I, whose ends h are bent backward against the back a. A horizontal pin N, which is secured to these ends h, lies between the plate and the curved parts of the loops and prevents the loops and plates from being raised too high. It also serves as a pivot upon which the frame and loops may be swung backward, as described. A springf,secured to the back a, bears against the plate D when itis raised and presses it forward, thereby acting, like the spring F, to so move the frame that the legs 0 are carried into line wit-h the posts.

The upward and rearward movement of the transfer-loops and their frame, whatever be its specific construction, may be effected by abent bail K, which in its best construction consists of two bent arms 70, integral with a connecting-loop 7c. The ends of this bail are pivotally connected with the top of the frame to which the transfer-loops are secured. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 these ends are bent around the top wire cl, while as shown in Figs. 4 to 7the ends of these arms are bent toward each other and enter an eye (1 formed on the top of the plate D. The bent parts k of said bail are adapted to bear on top of the backs a a after the cover has been thrown backward and to act like a cam to raise the frame and transfer-loops, as shown in Fig. 1. When the frame has been so raised, the loop end of the bail rests upon the cover, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. If now one wishes to tile or remove a paper, he may lift the cover a little, which causes a hook J secured thereto, to slide under the loop of the bail. WVhen the cover is again allowed to fall, this hook engages with the loop and pulls the bail rearward, whereby it pulls back the upper end of the frame and causes it and the loops to occupy a position relative to the other parts substantially as shown in Figs. 3, and 7. Nhen one has removed or filed the paper and desires to put the case away, it is not necessary that he should be at any trouble to replace the parts or slide the papers from the transfer-loops onto the posts. The mere closing of the cover eifeets these results. When one begins to close the cover, the hook '.I releases the bail, whereupon the spring described, acting upon the frame, swings it forward until the legs of the transfer-loops are in line with the file-posts. The cover also swings the bail over, and the bail swings the papers over onto the file-posts. The cover also strikes the tops of the transfer-loops and pushes them down to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6. A spring M, secured to the cover, strikes the bail and presses its end firmly down upon the papers, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, whereby they are clamped firmly against movement when the case is moved about. grooves a c are formed in the backs of the case and cover to receive the transfer-loops, this being necessary, because the posts are placed close to the backs c.

Having described our invention ,we claim 1. In a device for filing papers, the combination of two file-posts, a support therefor, transfer-loops, each consisting of a curved part and a downwardly-projecting vertical front leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, a frame consisting of two vertical legs and a connecting top bar which frame is integral with the lower ends of said transfer-loops, and suitable guides cooperating with said vertical legs of the frame and allowing the frame to be raised vertically and tipped backward, substantially as specified.

It will be noticed that the 2. In a letter-file, the combination of two file-posts, and two transfer-loops, each havinga curved part and a downwardly-extended vertical front leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, and a frame to which said transfer-loops are connected, said frame being capable of moving vertically and of swinging backward when raised, combined with a bail pivotally connected with said frame near its upper end, whereby said'end of the frame may be drawn rearward, substantially as specified.

3. In a letter-file, the combination of two file-posts, and two transfer-loops, each having a curved part and a downwardly-extended vertical front leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, and a frame to which said transfer-loops are connected, said frame being capable of moving vertically and of swinging backward when raised, combined with a bail pivotally connected with. said.

frame near its upper end whereby said end of the frame maybe drawn rearward, and a spring exerting its force on said frame to move it forward, substantially as specified.

4. In a letter-file, the combination of acase, two vertical file-posts secured thereto, two transfer-loops each having a curved part and a downwardly-extended vertical front leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, and a frame to which said transfer loops are connected at their lower ends, with guides for said frame secured'to said case, a hook secured to said case, and a bail pivotally connected with said frame near its upper end and adapted to engage with said hook, sub stantially as specified.

5; In a device for filing papers, two fileposts, a support to which the same are connected, and a back-piece a behind said posts, with two transfer-loops each having a curved part and a downwardly-extended vertical leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, a frame to which said transfer-loops are connected, said frame being capable of moving vertically and of swinging backward when raised, and a bent bail pivotally connected with said frame near its upper end, the bent part of said bail being adapted to engage with saidback Ct whereby said frame may be raised, substantially as specified.

G. In aletter-file, the combination of a case, two vertical file posts secured thereto, two transfer-loops each having a curved part and a downwardly extended vertical front leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, and a frame to which said transfer-loops I are connected at their lower ends, with guides for said frame secured to said case, a cover pivoted to said box, a hook secured to said cover, and a bail pivotally connected with said frame near its upper end and adapted to engage with said hook, a spring secu red to the cover and adapted to engage with the bail when the cover is closed, substantially as specified.

7. In a device for filing papers, thecombination of two file-posts, a support therefor,

and a spring-actuated rock-shaft mounted on said support and having guide slots, with transfer-loops each consisting of a curved part and a downwardly-projecting vertical front leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, a frame consisting of two vertical legs and a connecting top bar which frame is integral with the lower ends of said transferloops, the vertical legs of said frame being legs and a connecting top bar which frame is integral with the lower ends of said transferloops, the vertical legs of said frame being movable through said guide-slots, a bail pivot-ally connected with said top bar, substantially as specified.

9. In a device. for filing papers, the combination of two file-posts, a support therefor, and a spring-actuated rock-shaft mounted on said support and having guide-slots, with transfer-loops each consisting of a curved part and a downwardly-projecting vertical front 'leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, a frame consisting oftwo vertical legs and a connecting top bar which frame is integral with the lower ends of said transferloops, the vertical legs of said frame being movable through said guide-slots, a box to which the file-posts are secured, a cover pivoted to said box, and a curved bail pivoted to said top bar, substantially as specified.

10. In a device for filing papers, the combination of two file-posts, a support therefor, and a spring-actuated rock-shaft mounted on said support and having guide-slots, with transfer-loops each consisting of a curved part and a downwardly-projecting vertical front leg which is adapted to telescope with one of said posts, a frame consisting of two vertical legs and a connecting top bar, which frame is integral with the lower ends of said transfer-loops, the vertical legs of said frame being movable through said guide-slots, a box to which the file-posts are secured, a cover pivoted to said box, a curved bail pivoted to said cross-bar, and a hook on the cover adaptedto engage with said bail, substantially as specified.-

- In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. sTAnLE. THOMAS MILLS. 

